Saturday, December 8, 2012

This one is pretty easy and made entirely from items I had on hand: scrap fabric, a tiny bit of narrow ribbon, a button, and a chain that I stole from a necklace that I no longer wore.

1. Draw out a pattern, adding a 1/4 inch seam allowance
2 . Cut out fabric - 4 pieces (a front and a back for each side). For one side you will have to flip your pattern over to the back and use it in order to get 2 pieces facing the right direction. Pin right sides together
3. Slip a small piece of narrow ribbon around a jump ring and pin it to the inside of 2 pieces, in between layers, at each point.
4. Stitch around, using 1/4" seam, leaving an opening for turning.
5. Turn right side out, press, and top stitch as close to the edge as you can get.
6. Stitch the 2 finished pieces together, adding a button.
7. Attach a chain to the jump rings.

Friday, December 7, 2012

This can be made pretty easily with just a few adjustments to the Easy Tote Bag Tutorial (I'm using this tutorial as a jumping off point so check it out of none of this makes sense) using thrift store jeans ($2) -

you want a pair that's pretty big (these were a 2 XL) and have wide legs

Step 1: Cut bottom hem off of jeans. Then cut a section of leg 15" long.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

These easy tote bags can be made for anyone really by varying the type of fabric used. I've even made small kid-sized bags in the past for little ones.

For this one, I'm using a thrifted pillow cover (99 cents) but you can use a wide variety of different types of fabrics: sheets, pillowcases, tableclothes, quilting fabric, decorator fabric, or, in other words, pretty much anything you can get your hands on that has a design that you like.

You will also need lining fabric and fabric for the straps (all stuff I pulled out that I already had).

Pin outer fabrics, right sides together, and stitch around 3 sides, leaving the top opening of the bag open.

Do the same for the lining fabric.

Turn lining fabric right side out, leave outer fabric with wrong side out.

Make 2 straps using the same strap method as here, only you don't need to finish any of the short edges.

Insert lining into outer piece of bag, and start pinning raw edges together. Insert handles and pin in place, one on each side of bag, being careful not to twist them between the layers.

Use a 1/2 inch stitch and sew around the top edge, leaving a large opening between 2 straps for turning.

Turn everything right side out through the opening that you left. Now you can stuff the lining down into the bag. Iron the top edge so you have a nice, neat edge. Pin opening closed. Top stitch around the top edge.

This is my batting. It's an old felted wool blazer. Insulbrite is another option. It is a product made specifically for pot holders. It is heat resistant unlike polyester batting (which won't work). But, Insulbrite was not in my $1 budget so I had to use what I had on hand - felted wool.

I had to piece several scraps together.

Sandwiched and pinned.

4.) Use a walking foot to quilt a design. If you're piecing batting together, be sure to quilt enough to keep all of the batting pieces from shifting.